Starting Chemo June 2017
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Peachy my temperature has been up and down for the past three days. Just when I think it's done up it goes. Haven't had to go to emerge yet.
This is the worst so far. Can't get up for more than half an hour before I feel dizzy and need to lay down. Every thing hurts. Even my eye balls which I didn't know could hurt.
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Pink, I hope you feel better this morning. So sorry you are feeling so bad.
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I started using a product called Juven Therapeutic Nutrition Powder made by Abbott. https://abbottnutrition.com/juven . I did this to help with healing after surgery, hoping to minimize scarring. ( I did not do reconstruction after a bi-lateral). Each packet provides 7g L-Arginine and 7g L-Glutamaine, and Abbott recommends 2 packets a day. I do not know if it helped with wound healing, but my nails grew like crazy, and I have had weak slow growing nails most of my life. It is spendy ($81/ 30 packs) , but you do get a price break with setting up repeating orders. I have been using it for about 7 months. Initially I used 2 packets a day, but often only use 1/day now. I also started taking biotin very recently which another poster suggested. That is to help my hair. I do not know if it is doing anything. I did ask my oncologist to prescribe a glutamine/arginine product, but have not investigated with my insurance will pay for some of it. Last year I took it off my taxes since my medical was high enough to deduct some of it. This year it will not be high enough, so I might see if I can get insurance to pay for some of it.
2016 Left breast, 4 rounds TC, starting August, ending October. Bi-lateral end of November (my choice, vs single). Anastrozole starting 4/2017 ( I delayed 1-2 months, concerns for side-effects. I am having joint pain, stiffness, trigger finger). Probably a new cancer rather than recurrence, but no way of really knowing.
2009 -Left breast. Lumpectomy; Radiation; Tamoxifen 5 years
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Thanks Kim. I think I feel marginally better today. My throats doesn't feel quite so raw and temperature seems to have settled down. Still walking like a hundred year old lady. DH asked me what the taste is like. Said it's like having a sewer in your mouth 24/7. Yuck
This too shall pass.
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PInk, had a terrible sore throat too and then I got a lot of phlegm in my chest that I was coughing up. Probably a bronchial infection so I got some antibiotics. Hope your sore throat resolves soon and the taste issues as well. I am finally better, just in time for my final chemo.
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Pink and Julia - hope both of you feel better soon. Sucks to get sick while you're on chemo treatment. Passing all the positive energy to you all.
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Yes - feel better Pink and Julia. Sending extra prayers to you.
Sue
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I had my 4 chemo last Wednesday and my side effects are pain throat all the time. Only i am rinsing with sodium bicarbonate. And i have sores in the thighs! Imagine! Very itchy and painful. My Onco gave me fucidin cream. No bone pain yet. But with the throat and the sores i have enough! Next week i hope i will be better.
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Vivian - sorry to hear that you are having sore, is this your last chemo?
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Hope everyone has a restful night sleep and feels better in the morning!
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Finally finally after another week delay I am doing my last AC today. And then on to taxol in 2 weeks. I'm going to try the dose-dense. The nurses aren't sure about it as they say causes quite a bit of body pains for 5 days and most people can't tolerate it. I'm hoping I can because I want to get this chemo bit behind me.
My abdominal wound infection has improved quite a bit. It's not a hundred percent but it's so much better. Saw the oncologist yesterday and she said we could go ahead for today. The plastic surgeon I saw this week thinks it's a superficial infection however his resident thought it was deeper than that and should be opened up. This is my second infection during my chemo.
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Tpralph - good luck to you AC today. It's such a pain to have going through infection on the wound now. I prayed you will fine.
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Sitting for Taxol #4 despite having this head/chest cils all my bloodwork looked good and i feel like im on the mend so treatment was a go..im also flying solo today and it's sort of nice not having to chit chat or anything. I listened to crazy fun music on the way in, was a little late getting here but didn't stress..now I'm about halfway through..hubby got kids to school and 2 of my cousin an from NJ are coming to visit me tomorrow..it's going to be a great weekend.also going dress shopping on Sunday for a bridesmaid dress for a wedding I will be in in April (even though I will be boobless by then)...hoping that everyone not feeling well feels better soon and that you all have a good weekend
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Last AC today woot woot!! I won't be starting Taxol until 3 weeks from now, september 15. Im doing every friday for 12 weeks.
Hope all of you are fairing well through this!
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SUSIE - woo Hoi for you on finishing AC! Enjoy your break before starting taxol..
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Susie - you are looking good and congrats finished AC 🙌🙌
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Thanks girls. They had a hard time getting a blood return from the port..again! I went to this chemo alone and I slept through most of it. The MO warned me this will be the worse one with the side effects. Hoping I can manage them on my own. And I gained thirteen pounds since starting chemo! I'm going on a diet!! Eyelashes are very thin now, I wake up with eyes red and a little swollen. MO gave me an ointment antibiotic but he thinks it's just from the lashes falling in my eyes.
Keep me updated on all of your Taxol side effects! I already painted the nails with OPI nail envy! But im really scared of the neuoropathy, MO said it's irreversible.
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Susie - you look gorgeous. Woot woot for last AC. Feels good to be done.
Huey - your strength is amazing. Keep strong and carry on girl.
Tralph - 😥 Sorry you're having such a rough time.
Vivian - sore throats does goes away. Mine took five days.
On day 8, no sore throat or muscle pain today. Walking kind of slow but walking! Made myself go out and get groceries. Had to stop every now and then to take a deep breath. Didn't pass out or have to sit down. Came close a few times but embarrassment kept me upright. (Didn't want people calling 911 or to have to explain to all those emergency dudes why seriously I'm okay! I'm just going through chemo. I just need to lay down here in the frozen food aisle while the hot flash passes.) But by the time I got home, oh ya, I needed to lay down. The sewer mouth is finally gone but no idea how to describe this dry mouth grungy taste that's left. Drinking lots of water but not as much coming out as what's going in. Maybe that's why we gain weight?
Everybody stay the course, it'll all be over. Keep telling yourself: I can do this.
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Susie today was my last AC day too! Taxol DD in two weeks if abdominal wound doesn't get infected again!
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My lab test didn't turn out good I'm low on white and red blood cells now I have one week to pump it up so I can have my last number 4 chemo. Any good suggestions??
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Paulette it had 3 FEC and 3 docetaxel, i did 4 only 2 more. The dry mouth and the taste is awful. But i can tell that i am in the 10 day and no bone pain yet. The pain throat is still there, the sores are getting better and no hot flashes yet. Eyelashes are starting to go. Today the eyes are red too. My insurance did not pay the neulasta shot so i had a generic for 10 days since chemo 3 because i had my blood cells low, i guess is going to be every cycle till the sixth. Keep going. !
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Thank you HapB for that great nutrition link. There is a book on amazon in paperback for a couple of bucks by those folks that I decided to get as well but I love the myths debunked. I am starting to think about my diet post chemo. Before my diagnosis I had lost 60 lbs in 18 months on the Atkins diet. I decided to give myself a little bit of a break and not be so strict during chemo but I will go back on during my Arimidex treatments which will start sometime in September I think. The oncologist says the less adipose tissue you have the better and that is the diet that works for me AND there is no sugar which is a plus.
Today DH and I closed down the infusion center so the nurses were the only ones to hear me ring the bell. I iced my hands and feet for the final time - YAH! Today I went au natural. I still have enough hair to walk around with although I often wear a scarf or a turban. My best wishes to all of you as you continue your treatments. Know that I read all of your posts and keep you in my prayers even if I don't always have time to answer each one individually. I am still very busy with my Dad, helping him adjust to having help 24 hours a day. It is hard for him as he has always been very independent.
t
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PS - Did you see this link about nausea. I have had none with my expensive meds. https://www.fredhutch.org/en/news/center-news/2017/08/new-guidelines-take-aim-at-chemo-related-nausea.html
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Julia - this is such a tough journey and I wish there would be an easier way to fight cancer. Congrats that you finished your chemo and wish you and your dad best of luck!
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Julia: proud of you. It's a tough road but you made it. Congrats 🎊🎉
HapB: can't imagine what it's like to drive three hours for treatments. I guess it's that independence in you that keeps you going
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Julia. Looking good! I am so excited for you!
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Tpralph and Susie - congrats on your last AC. It does feel like an accomplishment, right?! I know I was glad to put it in the rear view. One more box checked off. Susie...looking like a goddess during your infusion.
hhuey..Hope you are enjoying the weekend with your NJ friends. Keep playing that fun music and dance, dance dance!
Julia Jazz... WooHoo!!! Ring that bell!!! The glorious sound was heard far beyond the nurses ears. Good for you!!!! Wishing your dad a comfortable transition and strength for you to continue to help him. I'm reminded of a verse from a Bonnie Raitt song:
I see my folks, they're getting old
And I watch their bodies change
I know they see the same in me
And it makes us both feel strange
No matter how you tell yourself
It's what we all go through
Those eyes are pretty hard to take
When they're staring back at youHapB...3 hours in traffic after an infusion? God bless you!
Pink..glad you were feeling well enough to get out. No shame in needing a rest when you got home. You got out! I remind myself that "normal" people take naps all the time.
Paulette... Hope your numbers get better. I don't know of any particular ways to help them go up.
I went back in yesterday to see the triage nurse because I am still dealing with fever (since Tuesday) I'm a bit of a puzzle because I have no other symptoms at all. Just a pesky fever. All of my blood work, cultures came back negative. Had another chest x-ray yesterday that came back negative, as well. I seem to have a fever from unknown origins. Could just be a random virus that has to run its course. Good news is my white blood cell counts are normal so I should have the defense to fight it--whatever "it" is. Right now I'm tracking my temp throughout the day and taking Tylenol as needed. Woke up this morning with fever but took Tylenol and now, feel fine. Anticipate in a couple of hours it'll wear off and the fever will creep back up. That's been the trend, anyway. Maybe today is different and it'll be the end of the trend. One can hope.
Just hope this doesn't delay Taxol #2 that is scheduled for Thursday.
It's a beautiful day here and I'm going to get out in it. I hope you all have a great Saturday.
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Peachy - The same thing with me. All day long my temperature is pretty normal but every night at around 7:00 pm it jumps up. Then all night long it fluctuates between 37.4 and 37.8. Not high enough to go to emerge. No reason for the temperature spike, not feeling sick in any way, don't even feel feverish. Strange!
Hope everyone is feeling better soon.
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Thanks for everyone for all the good wishes and even a song. Hope all of you strong ladies have a restful weekend. Off to visit my dad when the rain lets up just a bit but going out for dinner tonight before the bone pain kicks in tomorrow night. The heating pad and some pain meds will take care of it though.
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Peachy said everything so nicely to all you lovely ladies. (I am sorry you are battling a fever. Glad everything else is checking out as normal, though. Stay on top of things!) Hope you have fun getting out today.
Know I am proud of all of you who have finished your treatments and fighting through the difficult SEs.
Susie, You do look beautiful. Period. I have not lost my brows or lashes. Haven't even noticed them thinning. I find that odd. Kind of worries me, but I am thankful.Julia, Thank you for sharing your photo of this milestone. What a celebration!
I have another friend in from GA who came on Thursday. Love her so much. She's a big help. We've been friends for 27 years? She introduced me to my first DH, so she will always be special to me. We've got some fun plans in Milwaukee today with my husband. I didn't sleep but about 4 hours, but I am ready to go -- lunch, Miller Brewer tour (for her and my DH to enjoy), then we will see a Jimmy Buffet Tribute band as summer seems to be winding down.
I finished my 3rd Taxol yesterday. I was in/out in 2.5 hours, because I had done my blood work on Thursday. All looked great according to my MO, but I haven't seen the report online yet. Curious if my glucose went down. I get really restless legs I notice during each Taxol infusion. (I have suffered with those since dancing as a child, but they really get crazy!) Once we left, I was fine. I got tired, too, because of the Benadryl, but my wiggly legs wouldn't let me sleep. They used the Betadine again, so I had no taste trauma. That is such a solution to swabbing my port with alcohol. Whew! My taste issues seem better overall. I have lost about 7 lbs overall, fine by me, and it seems to be holding, give or take 2 lbs. Drinking still seems to be an issue. Water is still ick to me. Lemonade or sweet tea seems to be the most comforting.
For me, Taxol has been SOOOO much easier than AC. I feel a real difference in energy and mentally. Still battling hot flashes, pretty intense at time, even after being on the Effexor for a month.
At Taxol #3 with my "Fight Like a Girl Socks"
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